UN Secretary-General-designate Antonio Guterres has said he would focus on bringing peace to conflict zones, and work towards alleviating the suffering of vulnerable people around the world, particularly refugees.
“The United Nations has the moral duty and the universal right to ensure peace and I will be promoting a new ‘diplomacy for peace’ by advocating dialogue to settle disputes,” Guterres told UN reporters Friday in New York.
“Alleviating the suffering of the vulnerable people, in particular the refugees and those in conflict zones, and gender equality would remain key priorities during my tenure as Secretary-General”.
The former UN High Commissioner for Refugees from June 2005 to December 2015, Guterres was appointed on Thursday by the 193-member UN General Assembly as the ninth UN chief.
He reiterated his belief in the values of peace, justice, human dignity, tolerance and solidarity, noting that his belief in diversity is a “tremendous asset” and not a threat.
Vowing to do his best to end the suffering of the people in conflict areas, which he said “breaks my heart”, he said: “I have witnessed, first-hand, the suffering of the most vulnerable people on earth. I have visited war zones and refugee camps where one might legitimately ask: What has happened to the dignity and worth of the human person?
“I believe that diversity in all its forms is a tremendous asset and not a threat, that in societies that are more and more multi-ethnic, multicultural and multireligious, diversity can bring us together, not drive us apart.”
He thanked the UN General Assembly for the appointment, noting that he was grateful to the member states for their trust in him as well as for the transparent and open selection process they undertook.
“I believe this process means that the true winner today is the credibility of the UN. And it also made very clear to me that, as Secretary-General, having been chosen by all member states, I must be at the service of them all equally and with no agenda but the one enshrined in the UN Charter,” said Guterres.
He applauded the work of outgoing UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and said that he would try his “utmost to honour” Ban’s legacy.
Source PANA
